C1idiomtimeIELTS-friendly
buy time
USUK
to delay something so that you have more time to prepare or decide
Used about negotiations, exams, politics and sport. 'Play for time' is similar but sounds more negative.
In context
He asked a lot of questions just to buy time while he thought of an answer.
The government cut interest rates to buy time for the struggling banks.
More idioms about time
- around the clockall day and all night, without stopping
- at the last minuteat the latest possible time, just before something happens or must be done
- behind the timesold-fashioned; not using the newest ideas, methods or technology
- for the time beingfor now, until something changes
- in no timevery quickly or very soon